What to do with a liberal arts degree?

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I'm a senior in HS right now, graduating in early June. I'm going to University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Fall (with my brothers). Yay! But I'm not sure what I can do career-wise with a liberal arts degree. I'm good at writing/history/language and I like it, but I don't know what sort of job I could get pre-graduate school. What does one do with a language, history, or english degree (besides teaching)?

 

[OdiN]

The McDonalds down the street here is hiring.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: OdiN
The McDonalds down the street here is hiring.

ask fritolays to refer you.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

A liberal arts diploma makes for a great Cheech & Chong style blunt.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Starbucks, Krogers, Harris Teeter, Publix, McDonald's, Arby's, Wendy's, Burger King, Krystal, Jersey Mikes, Jimmy Johns, Firehouse, Red Lobster, O'Charley's, Macaroni Grill, Charlie Pepper, Dan McGrew, Texas Roadhouse....the possibilities are endless.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I knew you guys would be helpful!

 

[ChaoZ]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
I knew you guys would be helpful!

We're just being realistic.

 

[Ronstang]

A Liberal Arts degree is for people who want the college experience without actually having to really study or work hard so expect employment options looking for such qualities....most will involve a name tag.

 

[AtlantaBob]

Speaking as one who has an liberal arts undergrad (and a masters in architectural history), you do this: go to professional school.

Most people who end up getting a liberal arts degree, who are reasonably bright, and have the need to get some real income end up going to business school (my choice), law school (considered it, but too many friends who are lawyers hate their jobs) or medical school (just never felt that was for me). Of course, there are lots of other options--you can always get a PhD in your field and be an academic, or do something else, like go to journalism school or become a social worker. Granted, you probably won't make as much money in these professions (PhD possibly excluded, depending on your field). But, for the most part, choose something that you want to do.

I could go on, but I should really cook dinner. To a large extent the whole liberal arts degree depends on your political leanings, as well as how you feel about the Academy in general. Feel free to send me a PM if you want to hear some more...

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

How about studying Library Science? Is there a reason you're set on a liberal arts degree but, don't want to teach?

 

[Baked]

A receipt for 4 years of over price but totally useless education. On the plus side, company would rather hire somebody w/ a college degree over somebody w/ equivalent experience in the same field. :roll:

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
I knew you guys would be helpful!

It really doesn't take much to figure this one out.

Pick some other college major out at random: accounting, engineering, computer science etc. Then think to yourself: what can I do with this degree? Odds are you'll have a ton of answers.


Now do the same with liberal arts: What can I do with this degree? *crickets*

That should tell you everything you need to know.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Or, you can realize that you don't have to go to college right now even though your brothers are.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Or, you can realize that you don't have to go to college right now even though your brothers are.

So we meet again. Same time, different day.

lol

 

[RESmonkey]

I'm laughing at the urban dictionary definitions of liberal arts, here's one:

A major you pick in college when you don't know what to do with yourself. The major doesn't focus on anything specific. You waste your time and money just to have the bragging right that you're attending college.

My friend just graduated from a Liberal Arts college, and he doesn't even know what liberal arts are!"

 

[Farang]

I'm a soon-to-be graduate in liberal arts. You are asking the wrong people here, so expect more of the same type of answers you have already got. With that said, if you want to do liberal arts I highly recommend you do a few things:
-Take math courses early and often, as to not close the door on more technical degrees in the future.
-Take all pre-med requirements, as to not close the door on med school or science grad school.
-Get damn good grades, there is no reason not to.

If you are unwilling to do these things, it means you are doing liberal arts because it is easy and you want to avoid the math and science involved in other majors. Recognize, then, that this is a decision borne of laziness.

You can do anything with a liberal arts degree, but you can't have the degree alone. You'll need to join campus organizations that give you experience in some area, as well as do internships. If you have experience working like this, your first job isn't going to care the title of your degree and as you may have heard after your first job your degree doesn't matter.

People knock on liberal arts degrees, but remember they are often the types that define success as a $40k starting salary. It isn't necessarily that they will make more money during their lifetime, or more importantly enjoy their work, but there is more of a clear path to land a decent salary and that is their highest (and I believe short-sighted) priority.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
I knew you guys would be helpful!

It really doesn't take much to figure this one out.

Pick some other college major out at random: accounting, engineering, computer science etc. Then think to yourself: what can I do with this degree? Odds are you'll have a ton of answers.


Now do the same with liberal arts: What can I do with this degree? *crickets*

That should tell you everything you need to know.

Except that I'm terrible at math. I'm not horrible at programming, but not that good either. Just not something I'd want to study extensively.

@Magnus, I'm not going because my brothers are. I'm going because I want to learn and because it's a great school.

Edit:

To all those saying "professional school", I am planning to attend. I'm thinking of becoming a lawyer. But I'm going to need to get the money to attend, riiiiight?

Anyway, If I become trilingual (almost bilingual in Spanish/English now, just need to spend more time abroad), how hard would it be to become a translator? Hell, maybe I'll go off and teach in the Dominican Republic (actually a possibility).

 

[RichardE]

Professional school

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: RESmonkey
I'm laughing at the urban dictionary definitions of liberal arts, here's one:

A major you pick in college when you don't know what to do with yourself. The major doesn't focus on anything specific. You waste your time and money just to have the bragging right that you're attending college.

My friend just graduated from a Liberal Arts college, and he doesn't even know what liberal arts are!"

This is probably as radical as Engineering definitions...
http://www.urbandictionary.com...e.php?term=engineering

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Or, you can realize that you don't have to go to college right now even though your brothers are.

So we meet again. Same time, different day.

lol

Come up with any valid arguments yet?

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Farang
I'm a soon-to-be graduate in liberal arts. You are asking the wrong people here, so expect more of the same type of answers you have already got. With that said, if you want to do liberal arts I highly recommend you do a few things:
-Take math courses early and often, as to not close the door on more technical degrees in the future.
-Take all pre-med requirements, as to not close the door on med school or science grad school.
-Get damn good grades, there is no reason not to.

If you are unwilling to do these things, it means you are doing liberal arts because it is easy and you want to avoid the math and science involved in other majors. Recognize, then, that this is a decision borne of laziness.

You can do anything with a liberal arts degree, but you can't have the degree alone. You'll need to join campus organizations that give you experience in some area, as well as do internships. If you have experience working like this, your first job isn't going to care the title of your degree and as you may have heard after your first job your degree doesn't matter.

People knock on liberal arts degrees, but remember they are often the types that define success as a $40k starting salary. It isn't necessarily that they will make more money during their lifetime, or more importantly enjoy their work, but there is more of a clear path to land a decent salary and that is their highest (and I believe short-sighted) priority.

So basically what you're saying is that a liberal arts degree is worthless since you can't find a "liberal arts" related job anyway, and you might as well have picked up a relevant degree instead lol

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Or, you can realize that you don't have to go to college right now even though your brothers are.

So we meet again. Same time, different day.

lol

Come up with any valid arguments yet?

Yeah. Back in college I woke up at 12pm, went to class, got fucked up, and got summer break, winter break, AND fridays off.

Now I work 9-6 5 days a week, with a whopping 12 days off throughout the year.

IS THIS ALL I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO!? ARE YOU FO SERIOUS?!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
I knew you guys would be helpful!

It really doesn't take much to figure this one out.

Pick some other college major out at random: accounting, engineering, computer science etc. Then think to yourself: what can I do with this degree? Odds are you'll have a ton of answers.


Now do the same with liberal arts: What can I do with this degree? *crickets*

That should tell you everything you need to know.

Except that I'm terrible at math. I'm not horrible at programming, but not that good either. Just not something I'd want to study extensively.

@Magnus, I'm not going because my brothers are. I'm going because I want to learn and because it's a great school.

Fair enough. What do you think of the Library Science idea? There's not much math beyond the usual college algebra and it uses those strengths you've listed.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Farang
I'm a soon-to-be graduate in liberal arts. You are asking the wrong people here, so expect more of the same type of answers you have already got. With that said, if you want to do liberal arts I highly recommend you do a few things:
-Take math courses early and often, as to not close the door on more technical degrees in the future.
-Take all pre-med requirements, as to not close the door on med school or science grad school.
-Get damn good grades, there is no reason not to.

If you are unwilling to do these things, it means you are doing liberal arts because it is easy and you want to avoid the math and science involved in other majors. Recognize, then, that this is a decision borne of laziness.

You can do anything with a liberal arts degree, but you can't have the degree alone. You'll need to join campus organizations that give you experience in some area, as well as do internships. If you have experience working like this, your first job isn't going to care the title of your degree and as you may have heard after your first job your degree doesn't matter.

People knock on liberal arts degrees, but remember they are often the types that define success as a $40k starting salary. It isn't necessarily that they will make more money during their lifetime, or more importantly enjoy their work, but there is more of a clear path to land a decent salary and that is their highest (and I believe short-sighted) priority.

So basically what you're saying is that a liberal arts degree is worthless since you can't find a "liberal arts" related job anyway, and you might as well have picked up a relevant degree instead lol

If you think it okay to be uneducated in areas that liberal arts students study, then yes you're probably better off getting a Finance degree. I'm not going to bother going into a big rant but I do believe taking PolS300 - U.S. Consitution is more important than taking MgtOp 456 Compensation Administration (two examples from my school) for the purpose of learning something that is important to know for the rest of my life. If I can get my foot in the door with credentials beyond the title of my degree (with internships and whatnot), then my choice is to be a liberal arts major because that education of more valuable to me.

I wouldn't really say it is much difference from a Finance degree. . if you are a Finance major and don't do any internships, you'll likely be in the same shitty $30k/year grunt level job as a History major can find.

 

[AtlantaBob]

Oh Lord... if you do it right--if you go to a good school--and not necessarily a highly ranked school, as those are the ones where Liberal Arts = postcolonial Freudian studies, you'll actually learn something about the human condition. You can always find a good paying job if you use that degree in a useful way. For most people, that will mean professional school, and that means that you'll need to a good undergrad school (or you'll need to be pretty darn smart). Then again, when you get out, you may make considerably more than the engineers around here

To the OP, going to grad school and being able to pay for it is a good thing (or getting a free ride), but, what type of law school are you thinking about going to? Particularly with law school, you want to go to a top-20, and avoid third tier schools.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Ns1
[

Yeah. Back in college I woke up at 12pm, went to class, got fucked up, and got summer break, winter break, AND fridays off.

Now I work 9-6 5 days a week, with a whopping 12 days off throughout the year.

IS THIS ALL I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO!? ARE YOU FO SERIOUS?!

LOL, growing up is a drag. :laugh: